Improvement in quicksilver-strainers



H. PLBAKES. fluicksiiver-Strainer.

Patented Jan. 26, 1875.

itnesseq Inventor 5 %M w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HILDEBRAND H. cakes-OF MINERAL HILL, NEVADA.

IMPROVEMENT m QUICKSILVER-STRAINERS.

Specifieation forming part of Letters Patent No 159,1 13, dated Jnnu-ary26, 1875; appli ati mm I I ,Sopten ibe'r 30, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Humane/m1) II. CAKES, of Mineral llill, Elko county,State of Nevada, have invented a Quicksilver-Strainer; .and I do herebydeclare the following description and accompanying drawings aresuflicient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to whichit most nearly appertains to make. and use my said invention withoutfurther iuvention-or experiment.

My invention relates to a device for racking off quicksilver after ithas been strained from amalgam, in order-to separate it from theimpurities which become mixed with it during the process ofamalgamation; and it consists in the combination of devices hereinafterdescribed and explained.

Heretofore the quicksilver when strained from the amalgam-sack wasreceived in a tub, together with dirty water, fine pulp, and greasymatter, and these impurities were usually re-' moved from the surface ofthe quicksilver. by means of a sponge before using the quicksilver foramalgamating the next charge in the pans. This sponging isobjectionable, as globules and particles of fine floury quicksilveradheres to the sponge, and to the hands of the operator, so that theprocess is attended by more or less loss of the quicksilver.

The object of my invention is to do away with all handling of themercury, and to obtain 'it clear,- bright, and ready for the nextcharge. in the pans immediately on its being strained from theamalgam-sack.

In order to explain my invention so that others will be able tounderstand its construction and operation, reference is bad to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which-Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is asectionalelevation.

Ar'epresents a tub or other vessel, into which the quicksilver to beracked off is received from the amalgam-sack, and which is intended totake the place of the usual tub employed for this purpose. To one sideof this tub or vessel I secure a spout, B, which may be of any desiredlength. The bottom of the spout B. should be on a level with the bottomof the vessel, and a small orifice or opening, 0, is made through theside of the vessel on a level alternate with the partitions 11, extendfrom the top to within a short distance of the bottom of the spout, soas to lcavea narrow space between them.

It will thus be seen that thequicksilver which enters the spout throughthe slot or orifice U will be compelled to pass alternately over thepartitions or rifiles d, and under the partitions a, in order to flowthrough the spout. As many of these partitions or ril'i'les may be usedas desired.

A false bottom, .h, the upper snrfilceof which inclines toward theorilice O, is placed in the bottom of the vessel A, so as to carry thequicksilver to the orifice and direct it into the spout. it also servesto take the place of quicksilver, and keepas small a quantity idle inthe tub as possible.

The upper side of the spout B may be closed .or not, as desired. Iprefer to keep it closed,"

in'orderto prevent the quicksilver from flowing over the partitions 6should it rise in the tub faster than it flows out of the spout.

Before using the strainer it is necessary to fill the bottom of the tubwith one dipperful of clean quicksilver, suflicient to cover the slot ororifice O. The quicksilver may then be drawn off from the cup of thesettler, and allowed to drain itself through the sack, which should'bemade of light ducking, so as to obviate the necessity of squeezing thesack, as is usually done, and which is always attended with some loss ofquicksilver. The straining may be assisted by means of a wooden staff,to press down the amalgam in the sack. As soon as the quicksilver risesto the height of one inch in the center of the tub it will flow over andunder the filtering-runes, and pass out at the end of the spout Binto atub half filled with clean water,1which is placed to receivethe-filtered quicksilver. The quicksilver will flow out of the spoutclean, bright, and perfectly free from dirt and greasymatter. In the tubwill be founiLdirty water, together with a blue soapy-mud and fineparticles of floured quicksilver.

The filter may be cleaned at the end of va month, the dirty contentsemptied into a tub, the water strained off, and the residuedried in thesun. As it dries the globules ,of mercury will amalgamate .to a certainextent, so that it may bestrained 01f. The residue re= mainin g is foundby analysis to contain fiftyfour (54) per cent. of mercury, which can berestored by retorting.

WVhenfthe strainer is at work the cover of the spout is kept closed, inorder to prevent dirt from falling into the riffles.

Themachine is notto be moved, except for the purpose of cleaning it.

The amalgamator should be careful to keep the orifices or passages clearwhen the machine is at work, and this can be done with a suitable pick.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, anddesire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

The tub A, provided with the false bottom F and orifice G,in combinationwith the spout B and alternating rifiies or partitions d-e,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

HILDEBRAND HENRY OAKES.

Witnesses JOHN L. BOONE, 0. M. RICHARDSON.

